The Nigerian Government is set to issue its own visa restrictions on the United States of America and other countries.
Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mohammed Babandede, made this known while discussing the new visa policy launched by President Muhammadu Buhari early this year.
He said the policy meant Nigeria will issue the same kinds of visas other countries were issuing to her citizens.
The US had announced that it will suspend the issuance of visas of permanent residency for citizens of Nigeria, Eritrea, Myanmar and Kyrgyzstan.
The US also increased visa fees for Nigerians, alleging that Americans were paying too much to obtain Nigerian visas.
“I can tell you that US is a country, it is a nation like Nigeria. They have the right to restrict who will enter their territory or not just like we can restrict US citizen or whomsoever from entering Nigeria,” Babandede said.
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“So they have the right, but I want people to know that visa restriction is not a visa ban, it is a ban for people who want to take residency not people who want to go for short visits.
“You are aware that President Muhammadu Buhari just launched a new visa policy for Nigeria, the visa policy has 79 classes of visa. So, we will be in a position to say to countries, if you allow us for short visits we will allow you for short visits and if you stop us from other visits, we do the same, because the new visa policy is based on reciprocity.
“So, we will test this for a year and see those who reciprocate and we take actions for those who do otherwise,” he added.
By Daniel Ojukwu
